April 21 - 25, 2003
Monday, April 21
Where are the Democrats?
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Larry Mantle discusses the Democratic Party and how it plans to regain power in a post-war political climate. The president‰Þªs success in Iraq has translated into very high approval ratings for him and his party and the concomitant result that the Republicans are overwhelmingly in control of the political agenda. So where are the Democrats and what are their chances of creating a viable political opposition with a possibility of overtaking the Republicans in 2004? Alfred Balitzer, Professor of Political Science at Claremont McKenna College and Claremont Graduate University, and Allan Lichtman, Chair, Department of History, and professor of History at American University, join Larry to discuss the Democratic Party.
South Gate Update
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What has been happening in the City of South Gate since the January recall election ousted a cabal of leaders, headed by Albert Robles? Joining host Larry Mantle for an update on the new city government is Rudy Navarro, newly- elected Treasurer for the City of South Gate, and Richard Marosi, staff writer for the LA Times.
Street-Smart Ethics
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Is it possible to thrive in today‰Þªs business world and remain ethical? --Judging by recent headlines, this may seem like a tough task. Nationally recognized psychologist Dr. McLemore reviews ethical disasters in business, like Enron and WorldCom. He then explores topics such as ethics and the law, ‰ÞÏtragic moral choices,‰Þð and ethical subtleties that can arise in work. His core message is to stay clear of trouble ‰ÞÏby acting honorably, conscientiously, and nobly.‰Þð Dr. McLemore joins host Larry Mantle to discuss ethics in the business world and his new book, Street-Smart Ethics: Succeeding in Business Without Selling Your Soul (Westminster John Knox Press).
Tuesday, April 22
The Future of Democracy
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Author Fareed Zakaria traces the rise of democracy and the freedom that the democratic form of government engenders in his new book, The Future of Freedom: Illiberal Democracy at Home and Abroad (WW Norton & Co). In it, he also explores the ‰ÞÏdark side‰Þð of democracy, its failures and its ability to turn on itself and foster chaos and repression. Zakaria writes that too much democracy is a bad thing, that is has evils, like de Tocqueville wrote in his 19th century classic Democracy in America. Imposing democracy can lead to tyrannical rule and chaos, radical theocracies in charge of nations, a warning for America‰Þªs work in Iraq. To preserve liberal democracy in the 21st century, Zakaria wants to see more ‰ÞÏdelegation,‰Þð or more indirectly democratic institutions, working in partnership with liberal democracy. He joins host Larry Mantle to talk about the future of democracy.
Iraq War Update
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The Shiites make a pilgrimate to their ancestral base in Karbala, officials examine mass graves near Kirkuk in Northern Iraq, American troops continue to find examples of the Hussein regime‰Þªs excesses, and inspectors continue to search for weapons of mass destruction. Johanna McGeary, Senior Foreign Correspondent for Time magazine, joins host Larry Mantle to talk about the latest developments in Iraq.
Travel in the Shadow of Sars, the War on Terror & Airlines on the Brink of Bankruptcy
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Paul Lasley and Elizabeth Harryman, Travel columnists for Westways magazine, and hosts of ‰ÞÏtravel minutes‰Þð for CNN radio, join Larry Mantle to talk about the latest in the world of travel.
Wednesday, April 23
New Design for Rose Bowl Renovation
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On Tuesday, Rose Bowl officials unveiled a preliminary design plan for the renovation of the stadium they hope will bring the National Football League to Pasadena, while protecting its National Historic Landmark status. Larry Mantle talks about the plan and the political fallout with the Rose Bowl‰Þªs General Manager, Darryl Dunn, and Bill Thomson, Chairman of the Tenant Recruitment Committee, Rose Bowl Operating Company.
The Politics of Charter Schools
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More and more Los Angeles public schools have become, or are in the process of becoming, Charter Schools, which gives them financial and administrative independence from Los Angeles Unified School District. The move is popular with parents and teachers, but L.A.‰Þªs teachers‰Þª union and LA Unified are less enthusiastic. Larry Mantle talks with Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, a reporter at KPCC, Linda Guthrie, Secondary Vice President of United Teachers Los Angeles, Roy Romer, Superintendent of the LA Unified School District, and Brian Bauer, Principal of Granada Hills High School, which is in the process of becoming a Charter School.
Cyber War!
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Frontline presents a new documentary about the new battlefield in cyberspace. After the September 11th tragedy, a group of scholars wrote an open letter to the President, warning him of America‰Þªs vulnerability to cyber attack. Michael Kirk, Producer and Director of ‰ÞÏCyber War!‰Þð joins host Larry Mantle to discuss cyber attacks that have happened, including ‰ÞÏSlammer‰Þð and ‰ÞÏNimda,‰Þð and what the US is doing to counter these attacks.
Thursday, April 24
The New Palestinian Authority Cabinet
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After a standoff with his appointed prime minister, Yasser Arafat approved Mahmoud Abbas‰Þª cabinet choices. Arafat made concessions to Abbas, whose choices will fill the important cabinet posts of Interior Minister and head of Security Services. The 24-member cabinet that includes supporters of both men will likely be approved by the Palestinian Authority legislature in the next few days. The question remains: will this be enough to bring the Israelis and the Palestinians back to the negotiating table? Dr. Lewis Snider, Associate Professor of Political Science at the School of Politics and Economics at Claremont Graduate University, joins host Larry Mantle to discuss the developments.
Orange County News
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Chris Reed, op-ed column editor for the Orange County Register joins Larry to discuss the latest Orange County news.
Science Talk with Michael Shermer
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Michael Shermer, editor of is the publisher of Skeptic magazine, director of the Skeptics Society, and an adjunct professor at Occidental College, joins host Larry Mantle to talk about the latest news in the world of science.
Friday, April 25
Democracy In The Middle East
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Is Islam compatible with democracy? This is the central question of a discussion hosted by Larry Mantle at the Islamic Center of Southern California on Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles. As the US works to rebuild Iraq, local and exile leaders are jockeying to form a new government, a democracy. What will it look like? It could be that democracy will mean a theocracy of sorts, or perhaps a mixture of secular and religious representatives from around the nation. Larry Mantle and his guests will discuss democracy in Iraq and also in Iran, the long-standing regional theocracy split internally by a reform movement. Also, is democracy possible in Syria, under Bashar Assad, or in Saudi Arabia, within the House of Saud? And what about democracy in Egypt, with President Hosni Mubarak at the helm? Joining Larry to discuss democracy in the Middle East are Salam Al-Marayati, an American Muslim of Iraqi descent, and the director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council of Los Angeles, Dr. Maher Hathout, spokesman for the Islamic Center of Southern California and Senior Advisor for the Muslim Public Affairs Council of Los Angeles,
and Basam Al Husseini, spokesman of the Iraqi American Council, California Chapter.
FilmWeek
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Larry Mantle and critics
F.X. Feeney of the L.A. Weekly and
Jean Oppenheimer of New Times
discuss this week's new film releases, including Identity, Confidence, It Runs in the Family, People I Know, City of Ghosts, House of Fools, Japon, Ten, The Real Cancun, and Lawless Heart.
Larry and the critics also found time to talk about this week's videos.
